Customer Reviews

Absurdistan

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

Sometimes the 2nd novel is a let-down. ABSURDISTAN follows a debut, THE RUSSIAN DEBUTANTE'S HANDBOOK that is frankly, hard to top. Shteyngart has done it. ABSURDISTAN is the story of Misha Vainberg aka "Snack Daddy." The son of a Jewish Russian Gangster, "Snack" got an education at a ritzy private American college called Accidental, kind of a cross between Antioch and Oberlin. After his father assassinates a competitor, a guy from Oklahoma, "Snack Daddy" is unable to obtain a visa to return from Russia to his beloved New York. His girlfriend is back in New York and Misha finds out that she is being seduced by one of his former classmates, a Professor Shteynfarb. Misha is determined to find a way back to America. He heads to Absurdistan, an oil-rich former Soviet republic on the Caspian. From his perch in the penthouse of the Hyatt Snack Daddy watches the country dissolve into civil war. All he wants is a Belgian passport and his next meal. ABSURDISTAN is a comic farce and a tour de force. I laughed my way through it.

I approached Gary Shteyngart's second novel, "Absurdistan" with a mixture of anticipation and fear. I very much enjoyed Shteyngart's first novel, "The Russian Debutante's Handbook", and thought it held the promise of even better books to come. But second novels pose a challenge for both the author and the reader. The author must face the dreaded "sophomore slump" and live up to the heightened expectations for his next piece of work. The reader faces a similar challenge. It is one thing to pick up a book and be pleasantly surprised. It is quite another to pick up a book expecting it to be excellent. Shteyngart has passed this test with ease. "Absurdistan" is a page turning farce that kept me laughing throughout.

Absurdistan traces the life, loves and misadventures of one Misha Vainberg. Misha is the 1,238th-richest man in Russia. He is a man of immense proportions (Shteyngart has a number of amusing ways to describe how various parts of his body quiver) and appetites. When he eats his intake of food is enormous and the process of mass ingestion is treated by Misha with something akin to an orgiastic spiritual exercise.

Misha was raised in Leningrad, now known as St. Petersburg. His father was a minor-league Jewish dissident whose chief claim to fame was relieving himself on the dog of an officious Soviet bureaucrat. After the fall of the USSR, Papa rose to wealth and fame by becoming a successful criminal in the "new Russia". Educated in the U.S. at the prestigious liberal-arts Accidental College where he is known as "snack daddy" to his friends, Misha finds his way to New York where he falls in love with Rouenna, a sultry young lady from the South Bronx (think J-Lo but with a bigger trunk). Life falls apart for Misha after his father kills an American competitor. He finds himself stuck in St. Leninsburg (Misha's hilariously apt description of post-Soviet life) with no possibility of obtaining a visa to return to the U.S. In short order Misha's father is murdered. After receiving a multi-million dollar `settlement' from the mobster that killed his father, Misha schemes to return to New York. The plan calls for him to travel to the Republic of Absurdistan, a former Soviet state on the Caspian Sea, obtain a Belgian passport, move to Brussels and from there find his way back to the United States.

As one might expect, the best laid plans of mice and the son of the 1,238th richest man in Russia don't turn out for the best. Rouenna falls into the arm of another man, the unscrupulous Jerry Shteynfarb, an incurable lothario, Russian emigre and author of a well received book with a title very similar to The Russian Debutante's Handbook but which cannot be set out on a family site. The Absurdistanis are divided into two competing sects, the Sevos and Svanis and before too long the nation is embroiled in a civil war for reasons that will remind the reader (as a previous reviewer noted) of Peter Seller's movie The Mouse That Roared. I agree although I would add "as influenced by Heller's Catch-22".

Will Misha make it out of Absurdistan? Will he win Rouenna back or marry the beautiful daughter of one of Absurdistanis leaders? Those questions are answered in the book but the enjoyment is as much in the journey as in the conclusion. Shteyngart has a keen eye for the social and racial distinctions that run through life in the US and in the "new Russia". The dialogue is mordant, sharp, and almost invariably funny. The book is not without its flaws. Misha is not a very attractive character even when he elicits our sympathy. It is hard to get emotionally vested in a character imbued with the gargantuan tastes and appetite of Misha. That is clearly Shteyngart's intent and it serves a purpose in terms of the novel's underlying themes. However, the reader should be aware going in that the 'hero' of the book bears little resemblance to George Clooney. Some may find the descriptions of Misha's loves (eating and women) to be just a bit crude. I thought it worked, but readers should not expect to see refined descriptions of high cuisine and gentle love making. Last, although I thought using Gerry Shteynfarb as a sort of alter-ego nemesis for Misha was amusing, if a bit self-referential, the connection may not be made by those who haven't read The Russian Debutante's Handbook.

All in all, Absurdistan is funny, irreverent, and also in many ways a thoughtful reflection on how our relationship with our family (even if they aren't as wealthy as Misha's) influences our own life choices. Absurdistan was an excellent book and one that I do not hesitate to recommend.

L. Fleisig

Absurdistan is a satire that skewers virtually every topic it touches; it manages to cover plenty of ground. As the reader, it's strangely difficult to get your intellectual bearings, but you never become completely unmoored - it's an interesting sensation, something similar to how I feel reading Vonnegut and quite an accomplishment for an author.

The book follows the misguided adventures of an overweight, Russian secular Jew who studied at a small liberal arts college in the United States. In doing so, Shteyngart manages to mock being overweight, Russian, Jewish, non-Jewish, secular, American and liberal arts educations circa 1990 (great fun if you went to one of those schools around that time). In other words, Shteyngart shows all of us to be worthy of some mockery. At the same time, however, the inherent good points of everything Shteyngart mocks show through quite clearly.

Our anti-hero takes us through St. Petersburg, New York (through flashbacks and imagination) and a fictitous country that was a former republic of the USSR. The result is really rather good and often very funny.

If you like "Confederacy of Dunces," anything by Vonnegut, or generally consider yourself to be a hopeful cynic - you're going to like this book. Even as Absurdistan pokes fun at everything in its path, it also brings out the redeming qualities of each of its targets.

The book's greatest merit is the humor, deprecating and revealing. It goes beyond mere entertainment because it satirizes both foreign attitudes and the American mindset. In the most hilarious manner it reveals how far removed the American reality is from the rest of the world and how enticing some of the positive attributes of our culture can be. One can also enjoy the hilarious accounts of other viwpoints and mentalities where the notion of legislating away our baser instincts is inconceivable. The downside of the book is that it ends with a wimper. I enjoyed it enough to order one of his other books.

The dark humor comes pouring out figuratively and literally in Gary Shteyngart's new novel skewering post-Soviet culture, American imperialism and the mixed blessings of capitalism in one fell swoop. The story's focal point is the grossly overweight Peter Pan-prototype Misha Vainberg, the son of the 1,238th richest man in Russia, who is desperate to return to the U.S. where he went to college, spent several years of penthouse life in New York City, fell for a trash-talking Bronx girl named Rouenna and engorged himself on the full spectrum of American cuisine. The comic and slightly surreal premise lends insight into what sudden exposure to democracy can do to a person's spirit and reason for living. Stuck in St. Petersburg (or as he likes to call it, St. Leninsburg), Misha has one dream - to attain a visa from the US consulate, but he fails to make headway with the governmental bureaucracy. His last remaining hope is going to Absurdistan, a former Soviet republic rich in oil, where he can get his hands on a Belgian passport that will allow him to get to the states.

Political instability, however, overtakes the tiny country and a most absurd civil war breaks out in a way that reminds me of Peter Sellers' first film about the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, "The Mouse That Roared". Mired in corruption where billions in petro-dollars are at stake, Misha is appointed the minister of multicultural affairs. Whether fighting for his life or discovering new love with the daughter of a local warlord, he finds he cannot escape his Russian past with ease. Shteyngart's unique gift is painting a panorama rich in cultural observations and personal chaos. The author also does not shy away from politically incorrect stereotypes because he shows them through Misha's jaundiced perspective of entitlement. Shteyngart challenges us to sympathize with an insensitive, often repellent glutton living in relative luxury, and he amazingly succeeds because Misha's journey toward self-awareness engulfs the reader in the absurdities faced by our reluctant hero. In what could be seen as the flip side of "Doctor Zhivago", the author illuminates the clashes between capitalism and socialism in highly inventive and shrewdly observant ways, showing us what a comedy of errors it has become to assimilate into a world so dominated by commercialism.

Absurdistan is relevant politically, disturbingly realistic, well written, and very entertaining. In the recent months I have fallen behind with current events in the Middle East (not surprising since I only read the LA times...well the comics at least), but after reading Absurdistan I feel that I can just fudge the names and get a pretty good idea of the situation in that part of the world. For a piece of fiction, it struck me as awesomely applicable to today's world and Shteyngart was able to craftily place political messages neatly into an entertaining story. Looking back on the book as a whole, it's disturbing that although every event in the book seems made-up and far fetched, they also seems like they could happen everyday in that part of the world. That mix of fictional events with the mind state of today's real world is what makes Absurdistan so engaging to read.
Shteyngart's characters are just a deftly crafted as the world that those characters exist in. My only problem with the story was that after getting to know every character there wasn't a single one that was a decent person. Mischa is just a grossly obese man trying to escape the life his father created who just loves food, money, women and maybe men a little too. Though he's the hero I just couldn't bring myself to like him. Rouena breaks Mischa's heart and even though she tries to come back around by the end, I just couldn't forgive her. Even Alyosh-Bob, the only character that I thought had a chance to be a hero, leaves Mischa when the going gets tough. Perhaps the lack of morality in Shteygart's characters is just another piece of commentary on today's world. Nevertheless, there is no lack of entertaining and funny material to satisfy any reader. Absurdistan is truly a pertinent piece of literature that and an excellent satire of today's world.

For most of the two weeks or so that I spent reading this book, I was pretty sure I didn't like it. I definitely didn't like the first 50 pages -- in fact, after four days I was still on page 37. I didn't like the writing; I found the "humor" not particularly funny. I found the subject matter either gross (detailed obese sex scenes!) or annoying. After page fifty, the book seemed better, but it still didn't hold my interest very well. It wasn't until the end of the book that I really started to enjoy it. All the subtleties came to light and I was able to enjoy the satire, the plot, and even some of the characters. After our book club met to discuss the book, I found myself liking it even more, and actually laughing pretty hard over certain passages of the book. So, all things considered, I can say I really liked it. It had moments of "Confederacy of Dunces" mixed with "Slaughterhouse Five." It hits its mark. My only recommendation is for the editors: Omit all those disgustingly vulgar scenes!!! They aren't necessary, and frankly distract from the satire, the quality of writing, and the emotional impact of this novel. They were almost enough for me to give up on this book altogether, and I am so glad that I did not. Readers: be warned!

Which I do.

This is a coarsely satirical novel of very modern times. Coarse, Contemporary, and well written in comparable measures, this book caused me a great deal of amazement. The storytelling is witty, and deeply imaginative, while the protagonist, An americanized rich russian fatty, is at once wholly sypmathetic, fatuous, and wise. His point of view is not ours, and in seeing through his eyes, truth is told about the world that otherwise would remain inveigled. Before I get too caught up in description, I should mention that this book is, primarily, funny. Much of the craft in the writing is for humor and wit. So much so, that the breakdown is often into 'something funny, or some bit of wit in each paragraph' as opposed to 'on every page'.
While other reviewers make the comparison to Ignatius Riley in 'Confederacy of Dunces' our main man is much more reminiscent in my mind of John Self in Martin Amis's dashing 1984 novel 'MONEY'. Both Steyngart's and Amis's first person storytellers strike on Rabelaisian themes of excess and size and appetite, and both are clueless berks or chelovecks, fascinated with money, media, big business, and internationalism. Both make clear the surface deep 'greatness of America'. Both are living (to quote Martin Amis) "Low life in High Style". If John Self is ultimately a Dupe of his own vision to tell his life story on the big screen, Misha Vainberg is similarly self-deluded in his quest to return to a very idealized New York, and to his equally idealized Latino-esque girlfriend. Both characters have good things to say about New York, Fatness & general gluttony,Women's sexuality (and their exploitation), relationships, International Travel, and the rigors of achieving one's aims. Steyngart also takes a rare page out of Amis's book, and writes himself into a self-parodying small cameo role in his own story.

Another great comparison that I feel should be made with Absurdistan is to Hunter S. Thompson, for the point of view writing, where the reader is taken on a wild ride, seen through the eyes of the protagonist. Many things that we'd all find rather alarming, if not shocking, don't seem much to phase Misha (witness his aplomb in calmly taking an energetic beating from two Russian toughs, who are guards for hire at the U.S. Embassy in Moskwe. All end up lying exhausted on the floor, drinking together, and overcome by Russian brotherhood).

All in all I found this book ingenious, and meticulously put together. Even as our hero/anti-hero is a rather selective, and therefore unreliable narrator, we gain surprising insight into his psychology, giant physiognomy, family life and general character, at the same time getting such a skewed view of the world-at-large, that it somehow rings crystal-true. While coarse, the book overall is uplifting, endearing, and above all funny.

Once I finished John Kennedy Toole's classic "Confederacy of Dunces," I thought I would never meet another strangely endearing sausage-loving anti-hero like Ignatius Reilly. I was wrong. Gary Shteyngart, in his laughter-inducing second novel, "Aburdistan" introduces us to "an incorrigible fatso...son of the 1,238th-richest man in Russia" nee Misha Borisovich Vainberg, who, by the end of Aburdistan, will have burrowed his way just as deeply into your heart.

The news gets better. Shteyngart has taken Absurdistan to an even funnier, Joseph Heller-ish direction, throwing Misha into a contemporary political nightmare that not only makes his readers laugh, but also makes them think seriously about the absurdity of US foreign policy. The only effort the reader needs exert to enjoy "Aburdistan" is turn the pages. Appropriate, don't you think?

The story focuses on Misha, a Russian-born, American-educated rap-loving 30 year old, whose only goal is to return to New York. He's trapped back in Russia, unable to get a visa because his father (a Russian dissident turned mobster) has killed an Oklahoman with the unlikely name of Roger Daltry. Determined to be reunited with his New York girlfriend Rouenna (currently under the spell of her unsavory Russian writing professor, modeled on no less than Shteyngart himself), Misha decides to travel to Absurdistan, where he intends to purchase (bribe his way to) a Begian passport.

This is where the story truly gains momentum, for nothing in Absurdistan is what it appears--not the Hyatt manager, not the newly instigated civil war, not even the Golly Burton (Halliburton) luau, complete with goodie bags. Each twist and turn of life in Absurdistan brings new insight and surprise, both to Misha and Shteyngart's readers. Shteyngart brings just the right amount of pathos and humor to this tale of love, war, and longing for home.

It will be no surprise then that Absurdistan was named one of the best books of 2006 by the "New York Times Book Review," "Time," "The Washington Post Book World," "San Francisco Chronicle," "Boston Globe Sunday," "Chicago Tribune," "The Seattle Times," and the "Rocky Mountain News." This book is as large as its main character, and as charming. Now in paperback, it'd make a great summer read.

Possible Spoilers:

Absurdistan is a novel characterized by absurd situations highlighting heavily clashes of culture and class in our world society today. However, no matter how absurd, every situation pertains directly to current events in today's world. Misha, the main character, is a rich and food-and-drink-loving Russian man with an extremely strong Western influence who desires greatly to move to America. He wears "vintage" Puma tracksuits and raps American rap with his friend Alyosha-Bob. Despite his love for America, he is trapped in Russia because his father, an influential Russian mob boss, murdered an Oklahoman businessman and the American embassy refuses to let Misha enter America.
The culture clashes emerge throughout the novel, sometimes allowing for a bettering of character, and other times just expressing the differences between different peoples of the world. Misha's first relationship is with Rouenna, a low-class, Hispanic, "ghetto" woman from New York. Although Misha is the rich, educated, "cultured" member of the relationship, Rouenna has a lot to teach and a mutual sharing of knowledge commences. Misha puts Rouenna through college, but Rouenna teaches Misha the pleasures of sex, doing laundry, and sex while doing laundry. Also, even though their class, race, and education are entirely different, they are both heavily influenced by American urban culture. Misha and Rouenna find a bond despite the severe difference in their backgrounds.
Absurdistan shows the massive gap between the upper class in the country of Absurdistan and its lower class through the obvious manipulation of the latter by the former. The Nanabragov family creates a war and bomb the rabble in order to get aid from the UN. The rich Americans make money off of the war by getting a "blank check" from the Department of Defense while the people of Absurdistan are being killed and their homes are being bombed to the point where one woman offers to prostitute herself and her child to Misha. The Nanabragovs respect and accommodate Misha in Absurdistan just because of his money and possible connections to Israel while they treat their own people with disdain and kill them off in order to make money.
Absurdistan is a very germane novel and points to many different problems in our time, and I always anticipated the next time I could sit down and continue the book.